Vietnamese, Chinese prime ministers hold meeting in Manila

Manila (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
had a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang shortly after the 31st ASEAN
Summit concluded a plenary session in Manila, the Philippines, on November 13.

PM Phuc extended congratulations to Premier Li
on the successful 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
and his re-election as member of the CPC’s Politburo Standing Committee.

He noted with satisfaction that joint efforts
have helped the two countries made progress in their relations, especially the
maintenance of regular meetings between their leaders. He also thanked China
for supporting 10 million RMB to help flood victims in Vietnam.

During the freshly concluded State visit to
Vietnam and his attendance in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang by
CPC General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, the two sides reached an
important common perception on promoting the Vietnam-China comprehensive
strategic cooperative partnership in a stable, healthy and sustainable manner,
the PM said, adding that Vietnam respects the comprehensive strategic
cooperative partnership with China.

He asked ministries, sectors and localities of
the two countries to coordinate closely to enhance cooperation effectiveness,
increase bilateral trade and take effective measures to boost the balanced and
healthy growth of their trade.

China should continue facilitating the import of
goods that Vietnam is strong at, particularly agro-forestry-fishery products.
It should also ensure the progress and quality of China’s investment projects
in Vietnam while encouraging Chinese businesses to step up investing in hi-tech
projects in Vietnam, PM Phuc said.

He also called on China to bolster ties in
finance, agriculture, environment, transport, and science-technology while
asking both sides to connect the “Two Corridors and One Economic Belt”
framework and the “Belt and Road” initiative well.

With regard to sea-related issues, the Vietnamese
leader applauded ASEAN and China’s consensus on a framework of a Code of
Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC). He also lauded the two countries’
effective cooperation in less sensitive sea-related fields and the release of
fishery resources into the Tonkin Gulf.

PM Phuc urged both countries comply with
important common perceptions reached by their Party and State leaders and the
agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues.

Vietnam and China need to persist in settling
disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the
1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They also need to promote
substantive negotiations to build a valid and effective COC, control
disagreements well, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, he added.

For his part, Premier Li congratulated Vietnam
on successfully organising the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. He affirmed
that the Chinese Party, State and people attach great importance to the
consolidation and development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation
with Vietnam.

The two sides need to thoroughly grasp the sound
development orientation for China-Vietnam relations, increase high-level
meetings to discuss strategies and major issues in bilateral ties, and continue
deepening cooperation in all aspects to ensure mutual benefits.

Premier Li agreed with PM Phuc about the need
for China to take measures to promote balanced trade and continue facilitating
the import of Vietnamese goods into China.

In terms of sea-related matters, he said both
sides need to seriously implement the reached common perceptions, manage and
control disagreements well, maintain peace and stability at sea and the overall
situation of the two countries’ relations, thereby bringing about practical
benefits for the two peoples.

At the meeting, PM Phuc invited Premier Li to
visit Vietnam in a near future. The Chinese leader accepted the invitation with
pleasure.-VNA